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NFL Picks

NFL Picks: Browns vs. Packers Week 7

The Green Bay Packers play host to the Cleveland Browns in Week 7 NFL action. Before placing your NFL picks find out why we believe that the odd makers have over extended themselves when setting this games point spread.

The Green Bay Packers (3-2) have a big game coming up Sunday
afternoon as they sit ½ game behind the NFC Central Division leading Chicago
Bears and Detroit Lions. The Pack squeezed out a 19-17 victory in their last
game against the defending champion Ravens and the pass defense must tighten up
as they face a Cleveland Browns (3-3) team that will be looking to throw the
football.

Kickoff is set for 4:25 pm ET at Lambeau Field, in Green Bay
Wisconsin and can be seen on CBS television.

According to the NFL odds listed at 5 Dimes Sportsbook, the
Packers are enormous 11.5 point betting favorite with the total listed at 45.5.

The point spread seems a bit high, being that the Packers
one weakness is their defense against the pass. Could this be an early hint on
to where we should place our NFL picks?

[gameodds]16/226971/?r3=43-19-349/dec&r-1=43-19-349/us[/gameodds]

The Pack are 28th in the NFL against the pass,
allowing a whopping 293.6 yards per game and Cleveland has a formidable trio in
the form of quarterback Brandon Weeden, tight end Jordan Cameron, and wide
receiver Josh Gordon. Will this game be a blowout at a place that Green Bay
excels in the form of Lambeau Field?

Well Balanced Pack
Attack

Usually, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is used to shouldering
the responsibility of the offense on his back as he looks for reliable
receivers like Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, James Jones, and Jermichal Finley,
but after an early season injury to rookie Eddie Lacy, this former University
of Alabama running back and 2nd round NFL Draft pick has proven that
he’s the real deal.

In his last 2 games , Lacy has rushed for 219 yards on 46
carries. Although he didn’t get into the endzone in either of those games, it
takes the level of predictability out of the Packers offense and makes them a
much more dangerous football team.

That said, Randall Cobb and James Jones have both suffered
injuries recently and Lacy will be getting a lot more work than expected. Cobb
is not expected to play this week and Jones might be out until week 15. This
even proves my point more that the point spread should be much lower.

Aaron Rodgers is a top-flight quarterback and will have to
rely on Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley.

Defending Cameron and
Gordon

Green Bay has always been at the top of the league
statistically in every category except for one; pass defense. Once again, the
Packers defense against the pass is one of the worst in the league and even
with superstars like A.J. Hawk leading the defense, the Packers will need to
contain the young dynamic duo of Cameron and Gordon.

With Brian Hoyer out of the picture for the season, look for
Brandon Weeden to have much more confidence as he enters week 7 with some job
security. Weeden is coming off of 292 yard passing game with 2 TD’s last week
in a loss to Detroit and he should be able to hook up with Gordon and Cameron
regularly. While Jordan Cameron leads the Browns in receiving, Josh Gordon is
coming off of a huge 7 catch, 126 yard performance against Detroit.

Outcome

Even with the injuries to key players, this is a game that
Green Bay should squeeze out. That said, the Packers are weak against the pass
and 11.5 points are way too many points to lay in a spot like this.